Accountancy: age discrimination legislation starts to bite

Anti-age legislation is helping Scotland meet increasing demand for accountancy professionals and preventing salaries in the sector overheating.

Joslin Rowe Glasgow-based consultant Elaine Peacock says the increased demand north of the border is also leading to firms recruiting workers from more diverse backgrounds.

Peacock says: "It used to be that in order to work in an accounts role within financial services, you had to have previous industry knowledge. Now this requirement is becoming more flexible, with a variety of industry backgrounds being considered - everything from manufacturing, consultancy or other service industries."

She adds: "I am also finding that since the age legislation was introduced, candidates who previously felt they wanted to retrain into accountancy but didn't, have been encouraged that age will be less of a barrier to them. I have seen candidates who despite a previous career now want to apply their skills to finance."

Peacock says many firms are now looking beyond the traditional qualified accountant status and will consider part-qualified candidates with good business, sales and operational skills.

But increased flexibility from employers means salaries in the sector remain flat.

Peacock notes: "If anything, candidates have moved for the same or slightly more, just to get the opportunity to move into faster-moving sectors with greater job security and comprehensive benefits packages."